Bottle-washing machine.



No. 880,869. PATENTED SEPT 11 19.06 D. WIGKHAM.

BOTTLE WA$HING MACHINE. APPLIOATION FILED DBO.21,1905.

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No. 830,869. PATENTED SEPT.1'1,'1906.

D. WIGKHAM. I BOTTLE WASHING MACHINE.

APPLIOATION FILED DEC. 21. 1906.

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Hlllllllll I v "(I "an": n'rnzs ca, WASHINGTON, oc DENNIS W IOKHAM, OF WARE, ENGLAND.

BOTTLE-WASH! Specification of Letters Patent.

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Patented Sept. 11, 1906.

Application filed December 21,1905. Serial No. 292,767.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, DENNIS WIOKHA a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at Baldock street, IV are, Hertfordshire, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bottle-VVashing Machines, of which the following is a specification.

his invention consists of a machine for automatically spraying a jet of cold water or t water and steam or air into the bottle for thoroughly washing the inside of the bottle after it has been treated to a soaking process and to also clean the outside of the bottle simultaneously.

My invention will be clearly understood from the following description, aided by the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a front elevation of a machinewith one wall of the washing-chamber removed to show the interior mechanism. Fig. 2 is a side sectional elevation of the machine. Fig. 3 is a part-sectional elevation of the sliding head with the cap for engaging the bottle. Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation of the sliding tube and cup for receiving the neck of the bottle. Fig. 5 is an elevation of the valves operating mechanism. Fig. 6 is a sectional plan, and Fig. 7 a sectional elevation, of the valves.

For the purpose of my invention I construct a framework with two chambers A B, the top chamber A carrying the brushes C and the bottom chamber B having the valves Y Z and driving-pinions E F, the drivinggear proper being arranged outside the framework and preferably inclosed by a shield G.

A sliding tube H and collar I are placed over cold water or steam and hot water or air-sup ply tubes J K. The connection between the sliding tubes J K and collar I is provided with ball-races L, so that the collar I can easily revolve. The bottle M is placed in a cup N on the collar I to receive the neck of the bottle M. The sliding tube H and collar I are held in their position by means of balanceweights P, attached to chains Q, running over two pulleys R. A sleeve S, capable of up-and-do'wn movement by means of a connecting-rod T, is provided and is constructed with its head U in line with the collar I and is also provided with a cap V, so that the'bottle to be washed can be placed between this cap V and the cup N of the collar I. The sliding tube H is formed with its end W of angular or cam formation for operating levers X, which open two valves Y Z, one, Y, for steam or air,

' which passes through K, and the other, Z, for h which passes up through tube K and into the bottle at any desired pressure. The valve Z also allows a spray of hot or cold water to be forced through the branch 8 up a tube a onto the bottle exterior, where it comes in contact with revolving brushes 0 to assist cleaning the exteriorof the bottle. The cap V, attached to the head U, has a ball-race b, so that the bottle can easily revolve on the ball-race L of the slid ng I tube H.

I The brushes (preferably two) are driven by I belting or gearing from the pullcyc, one brush traveling approximately as fast again as the other and ot or cold water,-

referably in contrary directions, so that in rushing the bottle it is caused to revolve. The arm S, which is intended to carry the bottle down, travels a distance of approximately fourteen inches, and on its return movement the bottle is released from the guide and is discharged from the machine. The brushes which brush and. clean the out side of the bottle can be detached when they have become worn and new ones inserted in their place. Also fresh brushes can be ut in, according to the diameter of the bott es desired to be brushed.

Attached to the head U is a bar (1, carrying a fork c, said bar and fork being adjustable as to position to suit the shape and size of bottle, and pivoted to bar (1 is a lever f, carrying a balance'weight g to eject the bottle M after release, as hereinafter described. it is a stop to limit the movement of the lever f.

he pulley c, operated from any prime mover, is carried by the shaft 75, having a pinion 3' thereon, which pinion 7' meshes witha toothed wheel '5, carrying the connecting-rod T, this operating the slide S and bottle-carrier. The axle is also carries a sprocketwheel a, which through the chain Z and sprocket m on shaft P operates the brushes through the gear E W.

To start the machine, the slide S and head U are placed in their highest position. A bottle is then placed by its neck into the cup N and the bottom of the bottle under the cap V. The slide S and head U are now moved downward by the connecting-rod T being I actuated by the wheel 2', operated by the pinion 7' on the driving-shaft k through the pulley c. This downward movement grips the bottle firmly between the cup N and the cap V, a continued movement forcing sliding the central steel tube the central steel Y which mesh with on the bottle.

tube H and the bottle M between the brushes C, the tubes J K entering the bottle. During this movement the brushes have been revolved through the chain Z, operating the sprocket-Wheels m from the sprocket-wheels n on the driving-axle 7c, the shafts p of the sprocket-wheels m carrying the pinions E, the pinions F for operating the brushes. At the same time the arms 1 of the sliding tube have by the cords Q lifted the balance-weights P soas to retain the grip When the'coned end W of the H has reached the rollers r of the X, it opens them out and in the other ends of the arms to Y Z, steam or air passing the valve Y to the sliding tube operating-arms so doing causes open the valves from the inlet D through inner tube K, cold or hot water from the inlet D through the valve Z and up the outer tube J, both substances meeting and mixing in the bottle for effectually cleaning the inside of same. At the same time Water passes through the outlet 8, leading from the valve Z to the ipe a for conveying water to the outside 0 the bottle for proper action of the brushes. During the movement the bottle is being cleansed both inside and outside, and when on the return movement the coned end W leaves the rollers r the springs t close the valves Y Z and force the arms X back for their rollers 1' to be free, completion of the u stroke of the arm S the head U and cap V eave the bottle and the balance-Weight g, acting on the lever f, and

and just before the forces the bottle over sidewise, when it falls onto a table or tray u or onto a traveling belt to be carried to a distance for drying, the

machine being then in a position for receiving a fresh bottle. During the movement of the bottle when the fork e rests on the machine the bar (1 slides in the head U, the bottle being between the brushes.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

In a bottle-washing machine the combination of a framework, a sliding tube and movable head having ball-bearing cups and caps carrying the bottle, the balance-weights for controlling the slidable tube, steam and air and Water tubes being arranged inside the sliding tube, means on the sliding tube for actuating levers operating valves of the steam and air and watertubes, brushes arranged outside the sliding tube, pipe from hot or cold water valve to convey water to the bottle for outside cleaning, a gear for operating the head to bring the bottle into position for cleaning the inside of same, an operating-brushes for cleaning the outside of the bottle and revolving same, the whole acting as and in the manner set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

DENNIS WICKHAM.

Witnesses:

PERCY E. MATTOCKS, WM. 0. BROWN. 

